Gaura lindheimeri plant named &#39;crimson butterflies&#39;

ABSTRACT

Described as a new Guara Lindheimeri plant having short narrow, crimson colored leaves growing on a very compact plant with short racemes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new Guara Lindheimeri planthaving the varietal denomination ‘CRIMSON BUTTERFLIES’. ‘CRIMSONBUTTERFLIES’ was discovered as a seedling variant of the variety GuaraLindheimeri ‘SISKIYOU PINK’ in a controlled planting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The new variety of a Guara Lindheimeri plant is an evergreenperennial shrub which has a compact, dense, spreading, growing habitdistinguished by its leaves, flower color and size. Asexual reproductionof the new variety by vegetative cuttings in Wonga Park, Victoria,Australia has demonstrated that the distinguishing characteristics aretransferred through succeeding generations.

COMPARISON WITH PARENT

[0003] The new variety differs from its parent, ‘SISKIYOU PINK’, inbeing more compact and dense and having a shorter raceme length. The newvariety also has a shorter and more narrow leaf length than its parentvariety and has a different leaf color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

[0004] The accompanying illustrations depict specimen plants of the newvariety in color as true as possible in color photographic illustrationsof this nature.

[0005]FIG. 1 shows the plant of the new variety;

[0006]FIG. 2 shows the new variety aside its parent variety; and

[0007]FIG. 3 shows a close up of the flower of the new variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

[0008] The following is a description of the new variety taken fromplants grown out-of-doors in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia during themonth of April. Color designations used herein are from the RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart (“RHSC”).

[0009] Plant: The plant grows in a spreading habit with compact, densegrowth.

[0010] Foliage:

[0011]Leaflet.—Size: About 52 mm. long and about 11 mm. wide.

[0012] Quantity: Dense.

[0013]Color.—Leaflet base: Near 187A Leaflet tips: Near 183C.

[0014]Shape.—Leaves are linear to lanceolate ovate to narrow ovate.

[0015]Texture.—Upper side: Smooth with fine pubsescents Under side:Smooth with fine pubsescents.

[0016]Veination.—Reticulate.

[0017]Edge.—Slight undulate margins observed.

[0018] Wood:

[0019]Bark.—Bark is smooth with fine pubsescents.

[0020] Flower:

[0021]Arrangement.—Raceme length very short; near 183A; tubular,diameter about 30 to 31 mm; 4 to 5 petals, near 53D;

[0022] Winter hardiness: Winter hardy to between 7° and 5° C.

[0023] Reistance to disease: Good, observed to be generally diseaseresistant.

[0024] Breeding: First observed as open-pollinated seedling in trial bedamong a crop of seedlings raised from the parent variety. This compactvariant was isolated in 1997 and has since been selected through severalcycles of selection to development.

[0025] Reproductive organs:

[0026]Arrangement.—Stamens, filaments and anthers are regularly arrangedat the base, but bunched in a pendula formation.

[0027]Filaments.—White to pink dependant on age.

[0028]Anthers.—Crimson.

[0029]Pollen.—Yellow.

[0030]Styles.—Thin, singular, medium length.

[0031]Stigma color.—Between pale green and cream colored.

[0032]Hips.—Shape: Oval to linear Size: Small with no seed protrusion

I claim:
 1. A new Gaura Lindheimeri plant of the variety substantiallyas shown and described.